Summer's Passing

According to our calendar, Summer ended a while ago. No one told the weather though. It's October in Wisconsin and we're sweating! Temp records were broken throughout the midwest. Wack!

Starting a post with weather chit-chat after a brief hiatus may seem trite, boring, or even disappointing, but perhaps I needed that "lite" opening to lend some wings to the heavier events of the past week. A few days ago, we reflected on the long and varied life of Matthew's grandmother who passed away on Monday. As sad as it always is to let go of someone we love, there was a more tangible feeling of relief and finality to her passing. When greyhounds die, their owners are fond of wishing them a fond farewell by saying, "run free" and imagining their pups racing other hounds on long stretches of green grass, pain-free. I imagine Grandma Jean cooking for an army of her friends and family, three different pots boiling on the stove, something very aromatic in the oven, and yards of plates carrying every kind of cookie and bar, waiting on the side. Her husband winks at her from a table, his way of letting her know he appreciates her. She winks back -- her way of saying, "There's no where else I'd rather be."

We also wrapped things up at the cabin -- the surest sign of summer's end, unseasonably warm temperatures be damned! I was equally impressed and amused by the concerted effort of men-folk who braved the chilly water and muscled in the dock and boat lift pieces onto the shore. Many of the men were CEOs, VPs and professors by day which lead naturally to civil discussions about how best to move those cumbersome metal skeletons. At each step, there was a chorus of ideas, illustrated by gestures and expressions, in a dozen different male timbres. Believe it or not, dear reader, they got the job done, and right quickly too.

Before we left, Leah and her grandma picked apples to bring home (the apple crisp we made tonight is de-lish!) and we posed for some pics under the neighbor's lovely maple tree. I've updated the Picasa link too, so check that out.

While the occasion that brought us together was a mournful one, we were able to mourn together, sharing stories, looking back through old photos, dusting off memories we hadn't played in years, like old songs we had forgotten but for which we still knew the words by heart.